Preparing for Sucessful Student Loan Repayment
Use your FSA ID to log in to StudentAid.gov
Use your FSA ID to log in to StudentAid.gov
Your FSA ID (the same you used to complete your FAFSA) will include a username and password. Once logged in, update your personal information and confirm your student loan servicer.
Confirm your student loan servicer
Confirm your student loan servicer
Your servicer may vary depending on the type of loan you have. If you don't know who your servicer is, log on to studentaid.gov external website and visit the My Loan Servicers section of your dashboard.
Log in to your loan servicer account and update your contact information
Log in to your loan servicer account and update your contact information
Create an account or log in to an existing one via the servicer's website. Review and update your personal contact information, including your email and mailing address, so your servicer can reach you.
Reauthorize or select auto debit for monthly payments
Reauthorize or select auto debit for monthly payments
If you were previously signed up for automatic debit before the payment pause began, you must reauthorize or select automatic debit through your loan servicer account. This will allow your loan payments to be automatically withdrawn from your bank account every month.
Review payment due date and amount
Review payment due date and amount
How to Pick the Right Repayment Plan
Review your student loan servicer account
Review your student loan servicer account
The contact information your servicer has may need to be updated. It is important that your servicer has accurate contact information so they can reach you with pertinent updates. You should also review your outstanding balances and accrued interest.FSA ID to log in to StudentAid.gov
Consider your repayment strategy and decide whether you need to change plans
Consider your repayment strategy and decide whether you need to change plans
When you completed loan exit counseling, you selected a plan to repay your student loans. If you didn’t select a repayment plan, you were automatically placed in the standard plan. If the plan you were previously in no longer aligns with your repayment strategy, you may want to consider switchingstudent loan servicer
Tips & Tricks
Start Early and Be Ready
Start Early and Be Ready
Don't delay being proactive if you anticipate encountering any troubles as repayment begins, as there are consequences to not being prepared.
Review Your Personal Budget
Review Your Personal Budget
Review your personal budget to ensure that you will be able to make your necessary monthly payments. You can find resources to help you create, manage, and maintain your budget on studentaid.gov external website.
Be Patient & Remain Diligent
Be Patient & Remain Diligent
With millions of borrowers transitioning into repayment at the same time, it is possible that loan servicers may be overwhelmed with a high volume of inquiries. It is possible you may not reach your servicer via phone the first time you call, and you may need to call a few times before getting connected. You may be able to find the information you’re looking for on your own on your loan servicer’s website, or by emailing or using live chat features.
Keep Documentation
Keep Documentation
Keep good documentation of your financial aid and loan servicer records and communications, such as forms, research, who you spoke to, and detailed notes of what you discussed.
Stay Alert to Avoid Scams
Stay Alert to Avoid Scams
- Never Pay for Help: Your student loan servicer will provide you with free assistance. You should never pay an outside entity to help with your student loans.
- Know Your Servicer: If you don’t know who your servicer is, you can find out by logging on to studentaid.gov external website and visiting the My Loan Servicers section of your dashboard.
- Be Aware of Phone Calls: While you may reach your loan servicer via phone, your servicer will always initiate communications with you via email. Unless you initiate the contact, you should never share personal information over the phone.
Identifying Your Servicer
The following are loan servicers for loans that the U.S Department of Education (ED) owns. You can find out who your loan servicer is by either:
- Visiting your account dashboard external website under the My Loan Servicers section.
- Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243.
We have been informed that many borrowers are experiencing long wait times to reach servicer representatives by phone. NASFAA recommends that borrowers ensure the information they're looking for is not on studentaid.gov external website or their own loan servicer's website before reaching out to servicers. They also recommend communicating by email or using live chat features, rather than contacting their servicer's call center. This will help reduce phone call waiting time for borrowers who must speak with a representative.